Insight on "Coucou" by Django and Josette Dayde

Judith de Haan

Does anyone know who actually composed the lyrics and the arrangement? Charming song!

PapsPier

The music is by A. Mathas and the lyrics by Jean Feline. They made another famous song that become a jazz standard
Venez donc chez moi/Chez moi

PapsPier

The arrangement is by Django I believe

Matteo

Thanks, I didn't know that the same composers wrote those two tunes. I love Angelo Debarres version of Venez donc chez moi.

And I've always thought that Django's guitar solo on Coucou sounds so unusually happy, bouncy and optimistic, which of course fits the tune.

Here's what the booklet of The Chronological Classics CD Django Reinhardt 1940 says about the singer: "Singer Lyane (Josette) Daydé, about whom little is known, worked with the Quintet for two weeks at the "Normandie" cinema/night club, but was then fired by the leader."

Yes, that's all it says. Well, a little mystery makes it all the more attractive. And spring is welcome anytime, as far as I'm concerned. The sooner the better.

wim

PapsPier

She is not so mysterious since she had a career after that. Django didnt like her so much but other jazzmen did. She was part of the zazous movement. She even played in movies as shown by TeddyDupont here

PapsPier

And she also recorded one of the hits of the Occupation era: Oui which was also recorded by Django in 1943

Matteo

Aha, she's the one to the left (Django's right) in the photo. So she recorded Oui? Well, before Youtube, web forums etc she was a mystery to both editors of CD booklets and me. Good old days; nothing like a little mystery to brighten up the day. Anyway, I think she sings better on Coucou than on that film clip. Oh how I long for spring, for le monde to get transformé...